Phonautographic record and process of duplicating the same.



E. F. LEEDS. .PHONAUTOGBAPHIG BEOOBD AND PROCESS or numoume THE SAME.

APPLIOATIOI FILED HA3. 6, 1908.

974,895. Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

W/TNES-SEQ I 8M fla h INVENTOI? 6 ATTORNEY UNITED. STATES rntrnntr oral-on;

EDWARD 1'. LEEDS, or nnwyonx, n. Y.

rrionnnroonarmc nnoonn AND rnoonss or DUPLICATING THE SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

Application fi1edMarch- 5, 1906. Serial No. 304,418. 5

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. Lnnns, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and. useful phonautographic record of lateral undula-' tions and practically uniform depth made in accordance with thls invention.

The characteristics of an original, phonautographic record and ofa duplicate thereof are the same, except as to the material in which the record-groove is formed.

Phonautographic records have heretofore been produced by the lateral vibrations of a recording stylus in a layer or coating of. a comparatively non-resisting material, that is a material offering but little resistance to the movements of the recording st Ins and carried or spread upon a surface 0 a tablet or support. Through the removal of the mater-lat upon the surface of the tablet or support by the laterally vibrating end or point of the recording stylus, a phonautographic record is traced in the form of an undulatory line of even depth.

As used in the description and claims of this specification, the expression phonautographic record applies only to laterally undulating records of substantially even depth. Such phonautographic records have heretofore been traced or produced in a mannersuch as that above described in a layer or coating of lamp-black, or ofbeeswax, parattln or other likesubstance dis-- solved in a suitable solvent, or of semi-fluid ink, or of other suitable non-resisting material, carriedor spread upon the surface of the tablet or support.

As is well known, an original phonautographic record formed in non-resisting mate-, rial is incapable of use for reproduetionof sound directly therefrom, since the 'non-resistingmaterial in which it is formed has not sufficient resistance t-o cause a reproducing stylus to be vibrated and thereby to cause the sounds originally recorded to be reproduced. F or this reason such phonautographic records must be copied in solid re:

sistin material in order to reproduce sound there rom.

The expression non-resisting material has long been used in this art, and is used .in the description and claimsv of this specification, to mean a recording materialthat offers a very small or minimum resistance to the recordingstylus and not SUfilCl OIlt-JIC- sistance to a reproducing stylus to cause it to be vibrated and the sounds originally recorded to be reproduced.

The tablet or support has been made in the form of arevoluble drum or cylinder but 'more oftenand preferably in the form of a flat rotary diskor tablet. The tablet or sup-- port has beenmade of paper, parchment, metal, glass or other suitable substance. Negatives, duplicates or copies of such phonautographic records, in solid resisting material, have heretofore been made by the purely mechanical process of engraving, or

b chemical de nosition or b hoto-en ravy l 7 y ing, or'by the, process of direct etching. In

I the making of negatives, duplicates or copies of such phonautograpliic records, by such processes, difficulties ha'vebecn encountered and the results obtained have not been satisfactoryi -"ln the making of a negative of such phonautographic record by the process of chemical deposition, for example, the layer or coating of lamp-black or other material, which is spread upon a surface of the tablet or support and in which the undulatory line of even depth has been traced to form the phonautographic record, tends to separate, and at times does separate from the tablet or support when the same have been placed in the electrical bath. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that when a phonautographic record has been traced in a layer or coating of lamp-black, or other suitable material tll)()V0.(lSC1ll')G(l, spread or carried. upon the surface of a tablet or support,the removal of the lamp-black or other material bythe vibrating-end or point of the recording stylus exposes, :11] somel instances, the surface of thepaper, parchment, metal,

glass or other suitable material of-which the.

tablet or support consists, so that. the phonautographic record thus traced in the formof an undulatory line of even depth has for the bottom of the groove or furrow the sur- 7' face of the tablet" or support, and for the sides or Walls of the groove orfurrow the material, suchas lamp-blackjbeeswax, para-ilin or other like substance dissolved in a suitable solvent, andthe like, of which the layer'or coating spread upon the surface of the tablet or support consistsf In other instances, thesurface of the support is not exposed and the phonautographic,record has for the bottom, as well as for the sides, of

the groove, the non-resisting material in here the tablet or support has been made of ma-' which the record has been traced.

terial such as glass, difficulty has been experienced in depositing, by 1 chemical deposivtio'n, upon such material, metal for the '20,

formation of a negativepr copya difliculty not overcome byspreadmg upon the surface '7 of such material'any of the agents heretofore used to amake the surface electrically con ductive) By reason especially of the delicate nature ofuthe material in which the phonautographicrecord is traced, beeauseof the character of the material of which the tablet or supp ort upon which it is spread consists.

andbeeause of the separation from the tablet or support of the material spread upon it.-

when placed in the electrical bath, and for other like reasons, in the circumstances of a ny, particular case, great difiieulty has been cncou'nteredin the making, by the process of chemical deposition," of a negative, forthe duplication or co-pyingof a phonautographic record" in solid resisting materiahbr other copy of a phonautograplnc record, and the results obtained have beenunsatisfactory.

' I have discovered that if a film of metal,

such as gold, silver or platinum, preferably gold, is deposited in the form of a vapor of the metal, in any well known manner, upon the surface of the phonautographicrecord,

as'by chan ing thecondition of the metalto copies of the original phonautographic'record intosuitable material for the reproduction of the original sound Waves, or'as" a matrix from. which, by means of chemical depositiointo make duplicates or copies of the original'phonautographic record, either ,forthe-reproduction of the original sound waves or' for the making of other negatives by chemical depositionto be used as stamps 'or dies to impress duplicate copiesof the original record into suitable material or the traced in a delicate,

said original and first negative matrix may be pressed into a tablet of wax or other suitable material and further negatives may be made by chemical deposition upon the impression in wax or in other suitable material;

or any of the said negatives, or duplicates or copies may be used for analogous purposes either according to the method of this invention or according to other methods heretofore known according to the conditions or requirements of the case.

I The negative matrix, formed of the vacuous deposit of a metal such as gold, is so delicate and soft that it is not adapted to be used as a stamp or die for the commercial production of duplicates of the original record by impressing it into hard, resisting material, such as compositions of shellac and earth ordinarily used for such purpose, and I, therefore, prefer to employ such negative matrix as a means of obtaining, by chemical deposition, as stated, a positive duplicate or copy of the original record from which a negative, stamping die may, by chemical deposition, be obtained in hard metal, as described.

Heretofore negatives, du alicates or copies of phommtographic records have not been successfully produced by the process of chemical deposition, principally because of the difliculties above mentioned and referred :to. The process of chemical deposition has,

heretofore, been used for the making of matrices, molds, duplicates or copies of records cut or engraved in wax or in a wax-like substance, of considerable resistance to the vibrations of the recording stylus. Such records are known as phonograph records or graphophone records and are to be distinguished from the phonautographic records traced, as above described, 111 nonresisting material.

'Phohograph or gra hophone records which are cut or engrave as stated, in wax or a Wax-like substance, of considerable resistance to, the vibrations of the recording styhisfare capable of use'for reproduction of sound directly therefrom, since the resisting material, in which they are cut or engraved by the vertical or lateral vibrations of the recording stylus, has suf'licient resist ance tocause a reproducing stylus to be vibrated and thereby to cause the sounds originally recorded to be reproduced. The resisting material, moreover, in which phonograph and graphophonerecords have been cut or engraved, is capable of withstanding the treatment necessary to make, by electrolysis, a chemical deposition of metal thereon, in order to obtain a matrix or a stamping die, without the danger of injury to or destruction of the original record, which exists in the caseof the phonautographic record non-resisting material. Experience has taught that in the making of matrices, by chemical deposition, from records out into wax or other like resisting material, it is advisable. to coat the surface of the matrix, when it is to be used as a stamping die, with a comparatively slight deposit of nickel. The depositof nickel has the advantage of hardening the surface of of cleansing and preparing the surface ofthe copper, will not be encountered, as will .be well understood by .those skilled in the art of chemical deposition, and what is of more importance, by depositing nickel ,dl-

rectly upon the surface to be duplicated, the

nickel forms a more accurate negative there of than it does when deposited as a coating upon a negative surface already obtained by deposit of metal upon the surface to be duplicated. In other words the surface of the deposited nickel, which is. next to the surface upon which it was deposited, is a. more exact negative thereof, when separated therefrom, than is the other surface acopy thereof.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be understood thatphonautographic records traced in a layer or coating of suitable non-resisting material carried upon the surface port can, according to my invention, be duplicated and copied in solidresisting and other material. 7

It will, of course, be further understood that the vapor of suitable material deposited in a film upon the surface of the phonautographic record. is electrically conductive; also that any hard metal, such as iron, may be used in place of nickel, to harden the surface of the matrix or negative of the phonautographic record and to make the surface more durable and resistant.

Having described my invention, which is of a tablet or suitable supthe result of repeated trial and experiment,.

What I claim is r 1. A plionautographic record, formed in comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, provided upon its surface with a film of the vapor of an electrically conductive material, substantially as described.

2. A phonautographic record. formed in comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, provided upon its surface with a film I i of the vapor of netal, substantially as described.

3. A phonautographic record, formedin comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing.

sound, provided upon-its surface with a film of the vapor of gold, substantially as described.

4. r-Lphonautographic record, formed in comparatively non-resisting material incapable 'ofvibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, transferred to suitable resisting material and provided upon its surface with a film of 'the vapor of an electrically couductive material, substantiallyas described.

5. A. phonautographic record, formed-in comparatirely non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, transferred to suitable resisting material and provided upon its surface with a film of the vapor of metal, substantially as described.

6. A phonautographic record, formed. in comparatively non-resistii-ig. material incasound, transferred to suitable resisting mapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing terial and provided upon its surface with a film of't'he vapor of-gold, substantially as described. V v

7 The process of duplicating phonautographic i-ecords, \vhich consists in forming a phonautographic record in comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, then depositiiig u'ponthe surface of the plionau-' togra recorda film of the vapor of an electrically conductive material, then, by chemical deposition, depositing suitable material upon the film, then separating thenegative so. formed. from the phonauto= graphic record, and finallypressing the negative. into a tablet of suitable material, substantially as described.

SJ-The process of duplicating phonautographic records, which consists in forming a ahonauto ra )hic record in con'iaarativelvnon-resisting material incapable of vibrating'astylus and reproducing sound, then depositing upon the surface of the phonautographic record a film of the vapor of an electrically conductive material, then, byv

chemical deposition, depositing metal upon the film, then separating the negative so formed from the phonautographic record, and finally pressing the negative into a tab let of suitable material,substantially as described.

9. The process of duplicating phonautographic records, which consists in forming a phonautographic record in comparatively non-resisting material incapable. of vibrat-' ing a stylus and reproducing sound. then depositing upon the surface of the phi'inauto- -.rating.the negative so formed material, su

non-resisting material incapable ing a stylus and reproducing sound, then emical deposition,

. depositing suitable material upon the film,

then sepafrom the phonautographic record, and finally ressing .the ne ative intoa tabletof suitable bstantially as described.

10. The processof duplicating phonautographic records,.which consists in forming a phonautographic record in comparatively of vibratdepositing upon the surface of the phonautographic record a film of the vapor of gold, then,,by chemical deposition, depositing suitable material upon the film, then separating the negative so formed from the phonautographic record and finally pressing the negative into a tablet of suitable material, substantially as described.

11. The processof duplicating phonautographic records, which consists in forming a phonautographic record in comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibratgraphic ,record, and

inga' stylus and reproducing sound, then depositing upon the surface'of the phonautographic record a film of the vapor of metal, deposition, depositing metal upon" the film, then separating the negative so formed from the phonautofinally pressing the negative into a tablet substantially as described.

12 vThe process of graphic records, which consists in forming a phonautographic record in comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibratinga stylus and reproducing sound, then deposit-ing'upon thesurface of the phonautonlckel upon the film,

"and -1eproducing sound,

graphic record a'film of the vapor of metal, then, by chemical deposition, depositing then, by chemical deposition, depositing metal upon the nickel, then separating the negative so formed from the phonautographic record, and finally pressing the negative into a tablet of suit- :able material, substantially as described. a

13. The process of forming a negative for the duplicating of phonautographic records, which consists I in forming a phonautographic record incomparatively non-resisting-material incapable of vibrating a stylus then depositing upon the surface of the phonautographic record a: film ot' the vapor of an electrically conductive material, then, by chemical deposition, depositing suitable material upon the film. sul'istantially as described.

14. The process of forming a negative for the duplicating of phonautographic records. which consists in forming a plunniutographic record in comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing. sound, then depositing upon the surface of the pbonautograpbie vapor of metal,

of suitable material,

duplicating phonauto .tive, and from the positive a negative,

record a film of the vapor of metal, then, by chemical deposition, depositin metal upon the film, substantiall as descr1 ed.

15. The process 0 duplicating honautographic records, which consists in orming a phonautographic record in comparatively non-resistingmaterial incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, then depositing upon the surface of the phonautographic record a film of the vapor of an electrically conductive material to form a matrix, then, by chemical deposition, depositing suitable material upon the film, then separating the negative matrix so formed from the phonautographic record, then forming, by chemical deposition, from the matrix a positive and from the positive a negative, copy of the ori inal record, and finally pressing the second negative into a tablet of suitable, resisting material, substantially as described.

16. The process of duplicating phonautographic records, which consists in forming a phonautographic record in comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrat ing a stylus and reproducing sound, then depositing upon the surface of the phonautographic record a film of the vapor of an electrically conductive material to form a matrix,'then, by chemical deposition, dcpositing nickel upon the film, then separating the negative matrix so formed from the phonautographic record, then forming, b chemical deposition, from the matrix a posi- PY of the original record, and finally pressing the second negative into a tablet of suitable resist-ing material, substantially as described.

17. The process of duplicating phona-utographicrecords, which-consists in forming a phonautographic record in comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, then depositing upon the surface of the phonautographic record a film of the vapor of an electrically conductive material to form a matrix, then, by chemical deposition, depositing metal upon the film, then separating the negative matrix so formed from the phonautographic record, then forming, by chemical deposition, from the matrix a positive, and from the positive a negative, copy of the original record, and finally pressing the second negative into a tablet of suitable res sting material, susbtantially as described.

18. The process of duplicating phonautographic records, which consists in forming a phonautographic record in comparatively min-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound. then dcpositing upon the surface of the phonautographic record a film of the vapor of metal to form a matrix. then. by chemical deposition, depositing metal upon the film. then separating the negative matrix so formed from the phonaut-ographic record, then forming, by chemical deposition, from the matrix a positive, and from the positive a negative, copy of the original record, and finally ressing the second negative into a tablet of suitable resisting material, substantially as described. 1 a i 19. The process ofduplicating phonautographic records, which consists in forming a phonautographic record incomparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, then de-v positing upon the surface of the phonautographic record a film of the vapor of gold to form a matrix, then, by chemical deposition, depositing metal upon thefilm, then separating the negative matrix so formed from the phonautographie record, then forming, by chemical deposition, from the matrix a'positive, and from the positive a negative, copy of the original record, and finally ressing the second negative into a tablet 0? suitable resisting material, substantially as described.

20. The process of forming a negative for the duplicating of phonautogi'aphic records, which consists in forming a phonautographic record in comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, then depositing upon the surface of the phonautographic record a film of the vapor of an electrically conduc tive material to form a matrix, then depositing metal upon the film, then separating the negative matrix so formed from the phonautograph'ic record, and then forming, by

chemical deposition, from the matrix a"positive, and from the positive a negative, co y of the original record, substantially as escribed. 21. The process of forming a negative for the duplicating of phonautographic records, which consists in forming a phonautographic record in comparatively non-resisting material. incapable of vibrating a stylus and re producing sound, then depositing upon the surface of the phonautographic record a film of the vapor of metal to form a matrix, then depositing, by chemical deposition," metal upon the film, then separatingthe negative matrix so formed from the phonautographic record, and then forming, by chemical deposition, from the matrix a positive, and from the positive a negative, copy of the original record. substantially as described;

22. The process of forming a negative for the duplicating of phonautographic records,

which consists in forming a 'phonaut-o-' raphic record in comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, then depositing upon the surface of the phonautographic record a film of the vapor of goldto form a matrix, then,by chemical deposition, depositing meta-l upon the film, then separating the tive, and from-the positive a negative, copy of the original record, substant ally as described.

23. The process of forming a negative for the duplicating of plionautographic records,

which consists in forming a phonautographic record in comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibratin a stylus and reproducing sound, then epositing upon the surface of the phonautographic record a film of the vapor of metal, then, by chemical deposition, depositing metal upon thefilm, then separating the negative so formed from the phonautographic record, and finally, by chemical deposition, depositing nickel upon the surface of the negative, substantially as described.

24. The process of duplicating plionautographic records,'which consists in forminga phonautographic record in comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, then depositing upon the surface of the phonau tographic record a film of the vapor of an electrically conductive material to form .a matrix, then depositing suitable material upon the film, then separating thenegative matrix so formed from the phonautographic record, then forming, by chemical deposi tion, from the matrix a positive, then, by chemical deposition, depositing hard metal upon the surface of the positive to form a negative, and finally pressing the second negative into a tablet of suitable resisting material, substantially as described.-

25. The process of duplicating phonautographic records, which consists in forming a phonautographic record in comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, then depositing upon the surface of the plionautographic record a film of the vapor'of an electrically conductive material to'form a matrix, then, by'chen ical deposition, de-

positing metal upon the film, then separating the negative matrix so formed from the phonautographic record, then forming, by

chemical deposition, from the matrix a positive, then, by chemical deposition, deposit ing nickel upon the surface of the positive to form a negative, and finally pressing the second negative IDtO iL tablet of suitable resisting'material, substantiallyas described.

26. The process of duplicatin'gphonautographic records, which consists informing a "phonautographic record in comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, then depositing upon the surface of the phonautographic record a film of the vapor of metal to form a matrix, then, by chemical depositionfdepositing-suitable material upon the upon the surface of chemical deposition, depositing the film, then separating the negative so film, .then, separating the negative matrix so formed from the phonautographic record, then forming, by chemical deposition, from the matrix a positive. then, by chemical deposition, depositing nickel upon the surface of the positive to form a negative, and finally pressing the secondnegative into a tablet of suitable resist-ing material, substantially as described.

27. The process of duplicating phonautographic records, which consists in forming a phonautographic record in comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, then depositing upon the surface of the phonau-- tographic record a film of the vapor of gold to form a matrix, then, 'by chemical deposition, depositing metal upon the film, then separating the negative matrix so formed. from the phonautographic record, then forming, by chemical deposition, from the matrix a positive, then, by chemical deposition, depositing hard metal upon the surface of the positive to form a negative, and finally pressing the second negative into a tablet of suitable resisting material, substantially as described.- v

28. The process of duplicating phonautographic records, which consists in forming a phonautographic record in comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, then depositing upon the surface of the phonautographic record a film of the vapor of metal, then, by chemical deposition, metal upon the film, then separating the negative so formed from the phonautographic record, then,-by chemical deposition, depositing nickel upon the surface of the negative, and finally pressing the negative into a tablet of suitable material, substantially as described. V

29. The process of duplicating phonauto graphic records traced in comparatively nonresisting material, incapable of vibrating a stylusand reproducing sound, spread upon a vitreous surface. which consists in depositing upon the surface of the phonautographie record"a--film of the vapor of an electrically conductive material, then, by chemical deposition, depositing suitable material upon the film, then separating the negative so formed from the phonautographie record, and finally pressing thenegative into a tablet of suitable natcrial, substantially as described.

30; The process of duplicating pl'ionautographic records traced in comparatively non-resisting material, incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, spread glass, which consists in depositing upon the surface of the phonautogra ihic record a film of the vapor of an electrically conductive material, then, by metal upon depositing formed from the phonautographic record, and finally pressing the negative into a tablei of suitable material, sul'istantially as described.

31. The process of duplicating phonautographic records traced in comparatively non-resisting material, incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, spread upon a vitreous surface, Which consists in depositing upon the surface of the phonautographic record a film of the vapor ot' metal, then, by chemical deposition, depositing suitable material upon the film, then separating the negative so formed from the phonautographic record, and finally pressing the negative into a tablet of suitable material, substantially as described.

32. The process of duplicating phonautographic records traced in comparatively non-resisting material, incapable of vibrating a stylus and re 'iroducing sound, spread upon the surface of g ass, which consists in depositing upon the surface of the phonautographic record a film of the vapor of gold, then, by chemical deposition, depositing suitable material upon the film, then separating the negative so formed from the phonautographic record, and finally pressing the negative into a tablet of suitable inaterial, substantially as described.

33. The processof duplicating phonautographic records traced in comparatively non-resisting material, incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, spread upon the surfaceof glass, which consists in depositing upon the surface of the phonautographic record afilm of the vapor of metal, then, by chemicaldeposition, depos iting metal upon the film, then separating the negative so formed from the phonautographic record, and finally pressing the negative into a tablet of suitable material, substantially as described,

34. A negative of a phonautographic record formed in a con'iparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, consisting of a layer of suitable material provided with a film of the vapor of suitable material, substantially as described.

A'negative of a phonautographic record formed in a comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, consistin of a layer of suitable material, a layer 0? nickel and a film of the vapor of suitable material, substantially as described.

:36. The process of making a negative matrix of asound-record, which consists in forming the sound-record in a coinparativelv non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, then depositing upon the surface of the record a film of the vapor of metal, then backing up the metal film, and then separating thenegative matrlx from the original record, substantially as described 37. The process of making a negative n'iatrix of a sound-record, which consists in forming the sound-record in a comparatively non-resisting material incapable of vibrating a stylus and reproducing sound, then depositing upon the surface of the record a film of the vapor of gold, then 10 backing up the metal film, vand then separating the negative matrix from the original record, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EDVARD F. LEEDS. \Vitnesses l GEORGE H. OLNEY, CHAS. H. THURSBY. 

